No. 3 Concordia fends off No. 8 Tigers in Mitchell

MITCHELL, S.D. – In their second top-10 matchup of the season, the No. 8 Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team hosted Great Plains Athletic Conference foe, No. 3 Concordia University and were defeated 70-66 Saturday at the Corn Palace in Mitchell.

 The Bulldogs (6-0, 2-0 GPAC) jumped out to an early 12-3 lead midway through the first quarter. Kynedi Cheeseman (Alexandria, S.D.) nailed a 3-point shot to cut the deficit to 12-6. However, the 3-point shot would not be enough to overcome the early deficit as the Tigers (6-1, 1-1 GPAC) trailed after the first quarter, 18-10.

 A quick 8-0 run capped off by a Rylie Osthus (De Smet, S.D.) 3-pointer tied the game early in the second quarter. The remainder of the second quarter was tight as DWU and Concordia traded baskets, but the Bulldogs took a 27-26 lead heading into the break.

 There was no breathing room in the second half as it was tight throughout. But DWU would take its largest lead of the game with 49 seconds left in the third quarter after Cheeseman connected on a jump shot to give the Tigers a 45-41 lead. However, the lead would not last long as Concordia tied the game at 45 heading into the fourth quarter.

 The lead was exchanged nine times in the first six minutes of the fourth quarter. DWU took a three-point lead following an Osthus 3-point shot. But Concordia found an answer with a run of their own down the stretch to defeat DWU.

 Osthus finished with 19 points and five assists, while Amber Bray (Anoka, Minn.) tallied 14 points, and four rebounds. Cheeseman notched 10 points and six assists for the Tigers.

 DWU returns to GPAC action against Midland University on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Fremont, Neb.